Hair strainer: drain strainer

ABSTRACT

A drain sieve adapted to fit detachably in a drain hole of a sink or the like to catch hair, preventing it from clogging traps.

United States Patent 1 1 1 1 3,742,524 Ballentine 1 1 July 3, 1973 [54] HAIR STRAINER: DRAIN STRAINER 1,450,629 4/1923 Grigg 4/286 3. 62 519 7 D 1. 4 286 [76] Inventor: Jean Ballentine, 4819 Cahuenga 32,22 4 2 i: n i g0;1 1fevard,N0rth Hollywood, 3,377,634 4/1968 Patterson 41290 a l I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Wed: 1971 540,437 5 1957 Canada 210/166 21 Appl No 1 7 91 429,378 6/1948 haly 230,661 1/1942 Switzerland C(i1 4/286, 015353632 Primary Exammer Hemy Ams z i I i [58] Field 61 Search 4/1, 159, 189, 190, 'g Robe" "irker I W Jr [56] References Cited [57] ABSTRACT UNITED STATES PATENTS A drain sieve adapted 16 fit detachably in a drain hole 1,494,882 5/1924 Barger 4/292 of a sink or the like to catch hair, preventing it from 404,060 5/1889 Strater 4 4/286 clogging traps 782,860 2/1905 Lever 4 292 4 960,901 6/1910 Hail 4/190 X 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 312m 3.742.524

INVENTOR.

JEAN P. BALLEN Tl/VE HAIR STRAINER: DRAIN STRAINER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention ,is directed toward sieve or strainer means detachably disposable in the drain hole of a sink, basin, tub or shower to catch loose hair, dislodged during shampooing or other washing, to prevent clogging of plumbing traps or the like.

The means takes the form of a mesh folded into shape to fit in the opening with an outer rim with screening folded over it so that the outside has a rough outer periphery whereby hair washed in at low water level is caught and held by the rim. Hair washed in at higher water level is entrapped in the central region of the mesh. The mesh can be a fine aluminum rustproof wire mesh.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view in perspective showing one form of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of one of the parts used in FIG. 4 as well as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of another form of my invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective which shows another form of my invention as designed for use in a shower;

FIG. 6 is a perspective which shows one of the parts used in the structure of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical section which shows another of the parts used in the structure of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hollow cylinder 10 formed of mesh with a closed bottom end and open at the top fits detachably into a drain opening 12. The top peripheral edge is folded about a peripheral ring 14 to form the desired rough outer periphery and also to provide an enlargement which prevents the cylinder from falling into the opening. Typically a fine aluminum rustproof wire mesh can be used.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cylinder 10, inverted, with ring 14 disposed at the bottom can be disposed over an opening 12 with a stopper 24 movable up and down therein.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, mesh 16 can be disposed around the outside and inside of a rounded ring 18 as well as extending across the central opening to produce the desired sieve. Two U shaped brackets 20 with downwardly extending legs and cross pieces joined at right angles can be secured at the cross pieces to the bottom of the sieve to serve as a clip detachably holding the sieve above an opening. The clip snap fits into holes of drain sieve. Stated differently, the arrangement in FIGS. 5-7 is for shower drains and fits flat so that it can be stepped or stood upon without damage.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

1. A drain strainer comprising:

a first mesh portion of a first diameter and surface area at least coextensive with that of a drain opening; and

a collar portion of a diameter and enclosing an area greater than the drain opening extending around the periphery of and raised from said first portion so as to extend above the surface of the mesh portion a finite distance when the side of the mesh portion opposite the collar portion is placed over the drain opening, said collar portion having a mesh covering on at least the drain remote side thereof, said mesh covering on said collar portion providing hair engaging mesh strands down to the surface into which the drain opens whereby in use the collar portion rests upon and extends upwardly from the peripheral surface of said drain opening.

2. A drain strainer according to claim 1 wherein the first mesh portion is spaced from the collar portion by a cylindrical mesh portion of a predetermined length whereby the mesh portion and cylindrical portion can be inserted into a drain until the mesh covered collar portion engages the peripheral surface of the drain opening.

3. A drain strainer according to claim 2 wherein the collar portion includes a ring with said mesh covering being folded thereover.

4. A drain strainer according to claim 3 wherein the mesh utilizes aluminum wire with a relatively fine mesh spacing.

5. A drain strainer according to claim 1 wherein the mesh covering extends across the top of the strainer such that all external surfaces of the strainer are mesh covered.

6. A drain strainer according to claim 5 including a clip secured to the first mesh portion on the drain side thereof whereby the drain strainer can be secured to a drain covering by means of the clip.

7. A drain strainer according to claim 6 wherein the mesh utilizes aluminum wire with a relatively fine mesh spacing. 

1. A drain strainer comprising: A FIRST MESH PORTION OF A FIRST DIAMETER AND SURFACE AREA AT LEAST COEXTENSIVE WITH THAT OF A DRAIN OPENING; AND A COLLAR PORTION OF A DIAMETER AND ENCLOSING AN AREA GREATER THAN THE DRAIN OPENING EXTENDING AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF AND RAISED FROM SAID FIRST PORTION SO AS TO EXTEND ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE MESH PORTION A FINITE DISTANCE WHEN THE SIDE OF THE MESH PORTION OPPOSITE THE COLLAR PORTION IS PLACED OVER THE DRAIN OPENING, SAID COLLAR PORTION HAVING A MESH COVERING ON AT LEAST THE DRAIN REMOTE SIDE THEREOF, SAID MESH COVERING ON SAID COLLAR PORTION PROVIDING HAIR ENGAGING MESH STRANDS DOWN TO THE SURFACE INTO WHICH THE DRAIN OPENS WHEREBY IN USE THE COLLAR PORTION RESTS UPON AND EXTENDS UPWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID DRAIN OPENING.
 2. A drain strainer according to claim 1 wherein the first mesh portion is spaced from the collar portion by a cylindrical mesh portion of a predetermined length whereby the mesh portion and cylindrical portion can be inserted into a drain until the mesh covered collar portion engages the peripheral surface of the drain opening.
 3. A drain strainer according to claim 2 wherein the collar portion includes a ring with said mesh covering being folded thereover.
 4. A drain strainer according to claim 3 wherein the mesh utilizes aluminum wire with a relatively fine mesh spacing.
 5. A drain strainer according to claim 1 wherein the mesh covering extends across the top of the strainer such that all external surfaces of the strainer are mesh covered.
 6. A drain strainer according to claim 5 including a clip secured to the first mesh portion on the drain side thereof whereby the drain strainer can be secured to a drain covering by means of the clip.
 7. A drain strainer according to claim 6 wherein the mesh utilizes aluminum wire with a relatively fine mesh spacing. 